Fastening device



May s, 1945. H C, GUTSCH 2,375,409

FASTENING DEVICE Filed July 27, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 8, 1945- H. c.GLITSCH 2,375,409

FASTENING IDEVIGE Filed July 27, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 wva/wbyb Hans C.Glicsch Patented May 8, 19-45 FAs'rENlNG nEvrcE Hans C. Glitsch, Dallas.Tex., assigner to Fritz W.

Glitsch & Sons, Dallas, Tex., a partnership consisting of Fritz W.Glitsch, Sr., Fritz W. Glitsch, Jr., and Hans C. Glitsch ApplicationJuly 27, 1942, serial No. 452,487

7 claims.

This invention relates to new and useful lmprovements in fasteningdevices.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved fastening devicefor securing sheets, plates or other members to a support, whereby theusual fastening bolts and nuts, together with their inherentdisadvantages are eliminated; the devicebeing particularly adapted foruse in securing adjacent plates or sheets to a common support.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved fasteningdevice which is adaptable for use in fastening adjacent deck sheets of abubble tower to a supporting member or truss and which includes aco-acting retaining plate and latch element which may be positioned froma point above the tray, whereby application of the fastening device isfacilitated and the use of bolts and nuts is obviated.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an improved fasteningdevice which nrmly clamps the sheet or plate to its support, whilepermitting the sheet to undergo a limited sliding movement relative tothe device, whereby thermal expansion and contraction of said sheet willnot result in a buckling or bending thereof.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improvedfastening device, of the character described, which is so constructedthat it is engaged and disengaged by a sliding movement and which isarranged to be applied without the necessity of employing auxiliarysupporting means, whereby said device may be quickly and easilymanipulated by a single operator, and also whereby the time required forassembling a deck or tray constructed of a plurality of sheets isminimized.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved device ofthe character described, wherein a retaining plate overlies the adjacentsheets or members to be fastened, and a latch element co-acts with saidretaining plate and with the support to which the sheets are to besecured, whereby a frictional clamping action is produced tofrictionally fasten said sheet against upward displacement on thesupport, the retaining plate being elongate and overlying the marginaledge portions of the sheets so as to hold said sheets in sealing contactwith the support and thereby minimize leakage of fluids between saidsheets and the support.

A particualr object of the invention is to provide an improved device,of the character described, which is extremely simple consisting of onlytwo parts, said device being arranged to be (Cl. 189h35) substituted forthe usual nuts, bolts and washers and being of such construction thatthe number of devices required to fasten adjacent sheets to a support isconsiderably less than the number 5 of nuts and bolts which wouldordinarily be required.

A still further object of the'invention is to provide an improvedactuating tool for use with the fastening device, said member includingmeans for imparting movement to the latch element of the device, wherebythe application and removal of said device is facilitated.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings,as an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a bubble tower or tank,illustrating the bubble tray or deck formed of a plurality of sheetswhich are secured t supports by the improved fastening device,

Figure 2 is an enlarged isometric view of the fastening device,constructed in accordance with the invention and showing the samefastening adjacent sheets to a support,

3o Figure 3 is a longitudinal, sectional view, illustrating the latchelement being inserted into position,

Figure 4 is a similar view, with the latch in fastening position,

Figure 5 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view, taken on the line5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged isometric view of the latch element,

Figure 7 is a view, similar to Figure 4, of a 40 slightly modied form ofthe invention,

Figure 8 is an enlarged isometric view of the actuating tool,

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 4, with the 4 latch elementinserted in the opening and prior to its movement into ilnal lockingposition, said element being engaged by the actuating tool,

Figure 10 is a similar view, with the latch moved to ilnal position bysaid tool, and

Figure 11 is a view similar to Figures 9 and 10 and illustrating thetool applied to the latch to move the same to a released or disengagedposition.

'I'he invention will be described herein as applied to the bubble trayof a bubble tower for fastening the sheets of said tray to thetransincludes a plurality of trays or decks but only one such tray isshown inthe drawings. The tray includes a plurality of sheets I2 whichrest upon and are secured to 4transversely extending trusses or supportsI3. It has been the usual practice to secure the marginal edge portionsoi.`

the sheets to the supports or trusses I3' by means of nuts, bolts andwashers. However, the use of bolts and nuts has been disadvantageous'because the underside of the truss or support is not always readilyaccessible and furthermore, a large number of bolts and nuts arerequired for each sheet.

As is clearly illustrated in Figure 2, the support or truss I3 isgenerally trapezoidal in shape, although it may be of any desireddesign, and is provided with a ilat top I4 upon which the marginal edgeportions of the sheets I2 rest. The sheets I2 have their edges I2aspaced from each other and are so positioned in order to permit saidsheets to undergo lateral movement due to thermal expansion andcontraction. In carrying out the present Invention the top of thesupport I3 is formed with a plurality of rectangular slots or openingsl5 which are equally spaced throughout the length of said support.` Theslots are located at the central portion of the top, whereby when thesheets I2 are resting upon the support I3, the slots I5 are dis-` posedin the space between the adjacent edges I2a of said sheet.

'Ihe improved fastening devices are associated with each of the slots I5and each device includes a retaining or conning plate I6 which isarranged to overlie the adjacent marginal edge portions of the sheets I2(Figure 2). The plate is bowed upwardly at its central portion and isconstructed of a spring steel or similar metal having an inherentresiliency. The longitudinal edge portions of the plate I6 are turnedupwardly a slight distance as indicated at II and thus, when the plateI6 is placed over the sheets I2, said plate spans the space between theedges I2a of said sheet. Since the central portion of said plate isbowed or curved upwardly, said central portion of said plate is spacedslightly above the upper .surfaces of the sheet I2 (Figure 5). The plateI6 is formed with an elongate slot or opening I8 which is located nearerone end of .the plate and which is disposed at the longitudinal centerthereof. When the plate I6 is placed over the sheets I2, the slot oropening I8 is alined with the slot or opening I5 in the top of the trussor support I3.

A latch element or key A is adapted to be inserted through the slots I8and I5 and is arranged to securely lock the retaining plate I6 inposition on the sheets- I2, whereby said plate will hold said sheets onthe support I3. The latch element is clearly shown in Figure 3 andincludes a body portion which is formed with a depending tongue I3having a generally curved shape. The forward portion of the element isprovided with a recess and the bottom of this recess is formed by thetop edge of the tongue, this edge being indicated at 20a. Above therecess 20, the element has an integral forwardly the numeral I0designates a` projecting extension 2I and the lower edge 2Ia of theextension forms the top of the recess, said edge being adapted to coactwith the upper surface of the retaining plate I6, as will be hereinafterexplained. A stop lug 22 extends outwardly at the rear surface of theelement A and when said element is in its latching position, the loweredge 22a of the lug engages and rides upon the top I4 of the support ortruss I3. A curved recess 23 is provided in the rear edge of the elementA above the lug 22, while a similar recess 24 is formed in the forwardportion of the extension 2I, these recesses being provided for covaction with a suitable actuating tool. However, if desired, theserecesses may be eliminated since the latch element A may be applied orremoved without the use of the particular actuating tool which will behereinafter described.

In using the improved fastening device, the sheets I2 are placed inposition on the support I3 with the edges I2a of adjacent sheets spacedfrom each other, whereby the slots or openings I5 in the support I3 aredisposed between the spaced edges. Each latching element A is theninserted through one of the slots I5, being passed between the spacededges I2a of the sheet. In inserting the latch element, the curvedtongue I9 is passed through the slot I5 by tilting the element, as shownin Figure 3 and the downward movement of the latch element A is limitedby the lug 22 striking the upper surface of the support.

After the latching element A is in position within the slot I5, theretaining plate is then engaged over said latching element, the' upperportion of said element passing through the elongate slot I8 in theretaining plate. The plate is moved downwardly until it engages theupper surfaces of the sheets I2 and at such time, the parts are insubstantially the position shown in Figure 9. The latching element A isthen raised upwardly so that the upper edge 20a of the tongue I9 movesinto engagement with the underside of the top I4 of the support I3 andsuch movement spaces the lower edge 2Ia of the ex'- tension 2I of thelatching element above the top of the support, whereby the plate I6 maybe slid relative to the latching element so as to be engaged beneath theextension. The sliding movement of the plate causes said plate to movebeneath the edge 2Ia, whereby said plate is confined by the latchingvelement. As has been previouslypointed out, the central portion of theplate I6 is bowed upwardly and the depth of the recess 20 in thelatching element is cut so that when the plate slides beneath the edge2Ia, the plate is placed under tension, whereby said plate isfrictionally locked against the sheets I2. The outer end of the edge 2Iaof the extension is flared or inclined upwardly at 2lb so as tofacilitate the insertion of the plate into the recess 20. The flaring ofthis outer end produces a cam action, as the plate moves into the recess20, whereby a tight frictional engagement between the parts is obtained.

- Since each of the yretaining plates I6 are relatively elongate, theyengage a larger area of the sheet I2, with the result that a fewernumber of retaining plates may be employed for fastening the sheets totheir support. Since the fastening is accomplished by a frictional`clamping action, the plates may undergo a limited lateral movementrelative to each other, which movement is ioiccasioned by thermalexpansion and contrac- Although it has been found that the frlctlonalengagement is sumclent to maintain the plate I6 and the element A in alatching position, it may be desirable to provide a positive means forpreventing disengagement of the parts. In Figure 7, a modification ofthe invention is shown and in this instance, the plate I8 is formed witha recess 25 located at its central portion and disposed near one end ofthe slot I8. A lug 25 is formed on the lower edge 2Ia of the extension2| and is adapted to engage the recess 25 in the plate when the partshave moved to a final latching position. Obviously, the complementarylug 26 and slot 25 provide a positive means for preventing unintentionaldisengagement of the parts and provide an additional lock to assurenonengagement of the device.

When it is desired to remove the device, it is only necessary to slidethe retaining plate I6 to the left in Figure 4 so as to align the slotI8 in said plate with the upper portion of the latching element A. Whenthis is done, the plate I5 may be lifted upwardly off of the sheets,such upward movement being permitted since the upper portion of thelatching element A passes through the slot I8. The latching element A isthen removed from the slot I5 in the top I4 of the support or truss I3.

Any suitable means may be employed for imparting a sliding movement tothe plate I6 in order to move it to its engaged or disengaged position.However, it is preferable to employ the tool illustrated in Figure 8.This tool includes a yoke 21 which has the outer end of its arms bentdownwardly to provide a flange 28. A keeper 28 having an inwardlydirected lug 30 is secured to the central portion of the yoke 21. Theyoke 21 is pivoted on a bolt 3I and is capable of swinging movement withrespect to a handle 32 which has its inner end also pivoted on saidbolt. A pair of spaced arms 33 have their upper ends integral with orsecured to the handle, while their lower ends are fastened together by atransversely extending pin 34.

In using the tool illustrated in Figure 8, the latching element A isinserted through the slot I5 in the support I3, after which theretaining plate I6 is engaged over said latch, as has been described.This position of the parts is illustrated in Figure 9. 'I'he retainingplate I6 is formed with a recess I5a in the end opposite that in whichthe slot I8 is located and the lug 30 of the keeper 29 of the tool isengaged in this recess. The pin 34, which extends between the ends ofthe arms 33 carried by the pivoted handle 32, is engaged with the recess23 on the latching element. 'Ihe recess 23 is located above the stop lug22 and is on that end of the latching element A which is opposite therecess I6a in the retaining plate I6. After the tool is so engaged withthe parts (Figure 9) the handle 32 is moved downwardly or swung to theright in Figure 9 and when this occurs, a fixed fulcrum at the pin 34 ishad, with the result that the yoke 21 is moved to the right in thisfigure. Such movement of the yoke 21 imparts a sliding movement to theretaining plate I5, whereby said vplate. is moved into the recess 20 ofthe latching element and beneath the edge 2Ia of the extension 2|. Thisposition of the parts is illustrated in Figure 10. Manifestly, the toolprovides a means whereby the retaining plate may be quickly moved into alatching position with respect to the latching element A. y

The tool may also be employed for releasing the device and in suchinstance, the lug 30 of the keeper 29 is engaged beneath the end of theretaining plate I6. The iixed pin 34 carried by the arms 33 is engagedwith the recess 24' in the extension 2| and the handle 32 of the tool ismoved in an opposite direction,.whereby the fulcruni is at the recess24. Such movement of the handle will result in the yoke 21 being movedto the left in Figure 11, with the result that the retaining plate I6 isdisengaged from the notch 20 of the latching element A. Although theparticular tool shown and described herein facilitates the applicationand removal of the device, the in-A vention is not to be limited to usewith such tool as any suitable means may be employed.

It is again pointed out that although the invention has been shown anddescribed as applied to the sheet of a bubble tray or deck, saidinvention may be employed for [fastening adja-` cent sheets to anysupport.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof andvarious changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in thedetails of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope ofthe appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A fastening device including, an elongate resilient plate bowedtransversely from end to end and having a slot in its bowed portionextending longitudinally thereof, and a flat key insertable through saidslot and having a recess in one edge only for receiving the plate infastening l relationship at one end of said slot.

2. A fastening device including, an elongate resilient plate bowedtransversely from end to end and having a slot in its bowed portionextending longitudinally thereof, a flat key insertable through saidslot and having a recess in one edge only for receiving the plate infastening relationship at one end of said slot, and a stop on the edgeof the key opposite the recess.

3. A fastening device including, an elongate transversely bowed platehaving' its longitudinal edges bent upwardly to provide bearings uponwhich the plate may flex, said plate having a slot in its bowed portionextending longitudinally with relation to said edges, and a keyinsertable through said slot having a recess for receiving the plate atone end of said slot, said recess being larger than the thickness ofsaid plate for receiving a support, whereby the key and -plate may befastened in position.

4. A fastening device including, an elongate transversely bowed platewhich is yieldable transversely, said plate having a slot extendinglongitudinally thereof, and a fiat key insertable through the slot ofthe plate and having a recess in one edge only for receiving the platein fastening relationship at one end of the slot.

5. A fastening device including, an elongate transversely bowed platewhich is yieldable transversely, said plate having a slot extendinglongitudinally thereof, a flat key insertable through the slot of theplate and having a recess in one edge only for receiving the plate infastening relationship at one end of the slot, and a stop on the edge ofthe key opposite the recess.

6. The combination with a hollow support having a slot therein and apair of sheets having adjacent edges resting upon said support in spacedrelation, of a flexible plate Abowed over the space between the edges ofsaid sheets, said plate having a slot therein adapted to overlie theslot inthe support, and a key insertable through the slots of thesupport and the plate and provided with a recess for receiving the plateand the support at adjacent ends of their slots, where-` by said sheetsare yieldably fastened on said support.

7. The combination with a hollow support hav-l ing a slot therein and alpair of sheets having adjacent edges resting upon said support'inspaced relation, of a flexible plate bowed over the space 10

